Siam-Myanmar relations through the perspective of the Royal Orders of Burma

Abstract

Surveying the historiography of Siam-Myanmar relations, one finds that Myanmar literature has been used profusely by native as well as foreign scholars, including Thai historians. For instance, parts of the Hmanan Yazawindawgyi (Glass Palace Chronicle) were translated by the Thai Prince Naradhip as Pra Ratcha Phongsawadan Bhama (The Burmese Chronicles) in 1913. Phra Phraison Salaruk (a.k.a. U Aung Thein) translated some sections involving Siam-Myanmar warfare from the Hmanan Yazawindawgyi into English, publishing some of his work in the Journal of the Siam Society (1908–1919).1 Similarly, in constructing Thai history, Prince Damrong, a highly respected historian, consulted the Hmanan Yazawindawgyi while compiling his influential book Thai Rop Phama (Our wars with the Burmese). Major-General Chanya Prachitromrau wrote a six volume semi-popular history mainly concerned with warfare between the two countries.2 With regard to recent developments in